We have some very sad news to share as a great friend in the Yakface community has passed away tragically.   Mike Martinez, also known around the customizing community as Mercury Art Studios, was killed in a car accident on July 2.

Mike was a moderator and active customizer in our forums, and a full time staff member at Echobasenews.com – he was also running a new customizing contest over there, which will still be completed – so if you have ever been into customizing, there would be no better tribute to a fellow collector than to enter a custom of your own into this contest that he worked so hard to put together here.

The good folks at Imperialshipyards.net are pitching in to help his family by collecting donations, and there has also been an outpouring of support and condolences on his Facebook page.

Above all, Mike was a great person and a devoted father.  He will be sorely missed and our prayers and thoughts are with his family and those closest to him.

UPDATE: If you wish to send a donation directly to Mike’s fiancee Hollie, here is the Paypal address with which to do so. totalsurvey8@windstream.net